Gordon & Macphail Private Reserve Caol Ila 2001 Hermitage

Gordon & Macphail "Private reserve series", this is standard peated Caol Ila distilled in 2001 matured in bourbon casks and finished in Hermitage wine casks (Syrah). It seems that there are a few hermitage finished whisky in this series. I'm unsure if the particular whiskies are chose as ideal partners to the type of casks or if it was a case of some guy by the side of the road in Rhône offering a bang up deal on casks that "just fell off the truck".

I know a previous version of this exists, distilled in 1997 but this one finished for 30 months in the wine casks, few reviews exist for these releases. The always informative and entertaining Serge @ whiskyfun towers gave it a low score and says the flavors we're funky and off. The folks at Gordon & Macphail dialed back the finish to 18 months for this one.

Nose: cured ham,prosciutto chips, sweet smoke, south Carolina style smoked pork shoulder. Leather, peameal bacon, black grapes, burnt jam, light menthol. There is dark cherry or blackberry notes mingling with the rubber band edge.

Palate: First impression cuts like a razor,graphite pencils,ashy, light astringence & mouth-watering. Cotton candy, candied rose petals, jammy leather. bicycle inner tube, dark chocolate, smoke and rhubarb cola (ok that doesn't exist)

The finish is long and sustains the dark chocolate, menthol and hot berries thing going-on, it's got serious texture and a salinity that I like. The hardcore peatheads might be upset at the wine finish, the nose and palate play well together and it's not too intense on the wine and astringency.

It is honestly one of the most interesting whiskies I've had in a while. I personally found this bottling rather compelling and have been thinking about it for days.

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